What Goes Around, Comes Around
Fred the donkey was always being told what to do by Farmer Phil.*
“Get your ass on the road!” he would scream. “Move it!”
All his life Fred was told how much of an ass he was, and quite frankly, he was sick of it. But still, he did what Farmer Phil told him to do—because that was all he ever knew.
One day Fred hauled a sled full of barrels tied behind him. He quickly grew tired, for he was trudging up-hill with the farmer on his back—as if he could carry much more. Still, Fred rode for as long as he could in the hot summer sun, but finally had to stop and take a breath.
Farmer Phil did not like this one bit. He took a whip and slapped it right across Fred’s already sore behind. Fred, tired and thirsty, carried on without a choice. He did not want to get slapped again.
At last, they made it to their destination: a ranch where bulls were ridden and teased with red blankets.
Fred did not understand this, but had little time to ponder. Farmer Phil again slapped his behind and pushed him into the barn.
A little opening in the barn wall allowed Fred to see the open range where the bulls were ridden. Curious, he peered through—and saw the farmer.
Farmer Phil was shaking another man’s hand as he was shown a large, angry-looking bull.
Fred watched in awe as the farmer mounted the bull. The bull tossed and jolted him around, until finally the farmer dismounted, landing gracefully on his hands and knees and ducking just before the bull’s kick.
Fred watched with relief, for he was a fair-hearted donkey and this was his farmer.
But the farmer then turned around, and Fred saw a glimpse of the whip in his hand.
Fred’s eyes widened as the bull was directed back into his cage. The farmer started whipping the bull on the behind. This bull became enraged, and Fred watched with pain in his eyes, for he knew what that felt like.
Just then, a goat with horns the size of large bananas walked across Fred’s view. The goat looked angry.
Fred stood there thinking, well, maybe the goat is just hungry, when suddenly the goat ran up and knocked the farmer right on the ground—bruising his behind so badly that he cursed a name Fred would never forget.
And on the way home, Farmer Phil had to walk alongside Fred, his heavy load lessened by his farmer’s newfound lesson learned.
What goes around comes around ;-)
“Sometimes the lesson we avoid learning comes back around in a way we can’t ignore.”
What Goes Around, Comes Around
Chrissi Kino © Skull And Moss, LLC.
* This story was created using The Time Writing Game, found here.
* This is not a literal portrayal of farmers, donkeys, bull riding, or goats — just a metaphor for power dynamics.
